Fifty years ago, on April 26, 1975, Joey Jordison . A metal icon, he was the drummer and one of the founding members of Slipknot – alongside Paul Gray and Shawn “Clown” – and one of its main songwriters. He was fired from the band in 2013 and, after revealing in 2016 that he was living with the neurological disease acute transverse myelitis.
A tribute to the legacy of Joey Jordison
Joey died of undisclosed causes in 2021 at the age of 46, leaving behind a legacy in music with his various projects. On what would have been his 50th birthday, the late drummer's family launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds and release Open Your Omen , the debut album by his band VIMIC , recorded in 2016.
According to reports from the family on the campaign page, "Joey didn't do anything small." The family described: "We want to release this album the way he would have wanted it; with the designs he was so actively involved in creating for the CD, double LP, and merchandise, and with the support of fans to make the biggest possible impact upon release." The release is projected for September 2025.
The drummer's estate aims to raise the necessary funds to manufacture, distribute, and promote the album in physical format (CD and double LP) and to hold an unforgettable evening with the remaining members of VIMIC, featuring artists and friends, in an event honoring Joey's legacy. The campaign can be accessed at this link.
VIMIC and the debut album Open Your Omen
Vimic was formed in 2013, derived from the band Scar the Martyr , shortly after Joey's departure from Slipknot. The initial lineup featured Joey Jordison on drums, Kalen Chase on vocals, Jed Simon and Kris Norris on guitars, Kyle Konkiel on bass, and Matthew Tarach on keyboards. In 2017, Norris was replaced by Steve Marshall .
Between 2016 and 2017, the band released four singles from the album: “Simple Skeletons”, “She Sees Everything”, “My Fate” and “Fail Me (My Temple)”, the latter featuring Dave Mustaine of Megadeth .
Mustaine praised the project and invited them to open for Megadeth on their South American tour in 2017, where two of the few shows performed by Vimic took place in Brazil.
Open Your Omen was an intimate project for Joey Jordison, as he told Revolver in 2017 [transcription via Blabbermouth ]: “We started this record when I was recovering from acute transverse myelitis. It was literally what saved me and helped me get back to being healthier than ever. These guys and this album encouraged me not only to relearn how to walk, but also to play drums again. Open Your Omen is the rebirth of the rest of my life .”
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